House passes $28 million bill to combat nationwide baby formula shortage

Mothers and infants across the United States have been dealing with an ever-decreasing supply of baby formula.

In an attempt to combat the shortage, the House passed two emergency bills on Wednesday, one of which allocates $28 million to the Food and Drug Administration.

HR 7790 was approved by a vote of 231 to 192, and provides "emergency supplemental appropriations to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes."

According to the text of the bill, the $28 million will go towards "Salaries and Expenses," focused on addressing the current baby formula shortage as well as preventing future shortages.

The funding is provided under the condition that the FDA Commissioner reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate on a weekly basis.

It remains unclear whether support for the bill exists in the Senate, where it will soon go up for a vote.

Also passed on Wednesday, by a vote of 414 to 9, was HR 7791, which amended the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to ensure that families in need can continue to obtain baby formula via WIC benefits even during supply chain or public health crises.

As the baby formula shortage continues, the Biden administration has taken steps to increase supply, including approving importing formula from abroad.

This came after the administration was criticized for sending pallets of baby formula to migrants at the US-Mexico border.